Bomber hogs shake off rust, promise better

They are five very large men of varying personalities, with as much influence on the game as the quarterback. “We’re one heartbeat,” is how elder statesman Stanley Bryant put it, Monday. “Us five, we go as one.” He’s talking about the Blue Bombers offensive line, of course.

That heartbeat might have skipped a beat when quarterback Matt Nichols took a hard shot early in Friday’s pre-season game against Edmonton.

It was one of several hits Nichols took in his one quarter of work.

“It’s just the rust,” Bryant said. “We’ve been competing with our defence the whole camp. And getting our first action against other different guys —it didn’t really catch us off-guard, but we just had the rust from camp.

“We stepped up after a slow start.”

It didn’t help that starting tackle Jermarcus Hardrick was a late scratch due to injury, forcing Patty Neufeld to switch positions.

Neufeld agreed rust was the main culprit early against Edmonton.

“Those guys had played already, and it was our first game,” he said. “As the quarter went on and the game went on, we cleaned it up.”

Once again, the Bomber O-line is largely intact from a year ago, and continuity means everything for a front five.

“Communication and all that stuff just comes second nature,” guard Sukh Chungh said. “No one’s afraid to talk. No one’s afraid to say anything. That’s a big advantage for us.”

Neufeld says it’s almost like the hogs know what each other are thinking.

“If we don’t get the call verbally, we know based on the look what guys are going to do,” he said. “Now it’s keep anteing up. We can’t just rest on our laurels … we’re trying to push the standard higher every day.

“We want to be the best group in the league and the best offence in the league and ultimately the best team in the league.”

EASY TO MISS

The one departed O-lineman is Travis Bond, whose mean streak and wide girth will be missed.

“We miss having him out for lunch and going out for dinner — he always knew the best spots to go eat,” Chungh said.

Bryant put it another way.

“We miss fat boy a lot.”

And if Bond, who left for the rival Riders, sees Bryant’s quote?

“That’s why I said it. He’ll notice that.”

VETERAN SENT HOME

The Bombers cut veteran defensive back Steven Clarke, Monday, despite the fact he intercepted a pass and knocked down another in Friday’s pre-season game.

“We wanted to give these other guys a bigger opportunity,” O’Shea explained. “And when you have a veteran in front of them and you’ve got the urge to play him for a half for the next game, you’re really limiting the number of reps you get to see these younger guys, just based out of comfort.”

LEANER NEVIS

O’Shea seemed surprised to hear D-lineman Drake Nevis claims to have lost at least 10 pounds in the off-season.

“He had a lot of clips on the tape that were extremely physical,” the coach said. “In the off-season, whatever he did, he’s moving quite well. Part of that might be weight … we certainly liked him last year, in terms of his ability to really pound on people. It’s nice to see that he’s got a little more jump, a little more quickness.

“But we’ve always liked the way Drake can play that physical style of game.”

INTO THE HALL

It’s a class of two for 2018, as the Blue Bombers Hall of Fame will welcome former receiver Robert Gordon and former team president Bob Miles this year.

Gordon played with the Bombers from 1999-2004, climbing to 11th on the team’s all-time yardage list with 4,474 yards on 288 receptions, 20 of them touchdowns.

The colourful pass-catcher, who doubled as a part-time movie actor, led the Bombers in 2000 with 89 grabs for 1,395 yards and seven touchdowns, all career highs.

He was a divisional all-star in 1999 and 2000.

Bomber coach Mike O’Shea, a former linebacker with Toronto, was asked if he had any Gordon stories from his playing days.

“Most of them would come from a movie set, probably,” O’Shea said. “Obviously a very talented, accomplished receiver. He always had a lot going on, but I don’t think it ever affected the way he played. He played hard.”

Miles helped guide the Bombers through that same period, one of the most turbulent times in franchise history off the field.

He was the team president in 1999 and 2000, when debt and poor attendance threatened its survival.

A restructuring plan that included financial help from the province saw the team streamline its board of directors and hire a paid CEO to lead the way back to financial respectability.

Miles and Gordon will be honoured at the Hall of Fame Legacy Dinner, Oct. 9, and at the Oct. 13 game vs Saskatchewan.

THE OTHER FOOTBALL

The Bombers will unveil details around a new pro soccer team on Wednesday.

Part of the fledgling Canadian Premier League, which will debut in the spring of 2019, the Winnipeg franchise will be owned and operated by the football club and play home games at Investors Group Field.

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